Unlike Anything Else

For the past year I’d been hearing people rave about The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. But frankly, I didn’t really believe the hype. I thought it was another romanticization of hollywood glamor and a fictional icon’s love story. Which I’m okay with, and it is that. But so much more.

This book is unlike anything I’ve read before. Beginning as the life story of Evelyn Hugo as she tells it to a unknown journalist for unknown reasons, we learn about each of the seven husbands as her story becomes more significant than I ever expected. I’d say there are two major twists in the story of Evelyn Hugo, neither of which I saw coming when I started reading. Eventually the first was hinted at, and I saw where it was going. But the second I didn’t see coming until it hit at the very end.

I enjoyed Jenkins’ writing (much like I did in One True Things), and the characters were interesting, but the story she tells is unlike anything I’ve ever read. I don’t know if that speaks to the lack of diversity in my reading habits, the lack of diversity in popular fiction, or both, or neither. But either way, give this one a try. Despite the occasional unlikability of a character or two, and a few instances of behavior that’s a bit of a far reach, this book is definitely worth reading.

You may notice I haven’t said much about what happens in the 350+ pages, but that’s because I don’t want to give anything away. There’s so much to unpack, but you’ll just have to read for yourself! And I highly recommend you do.